Trailer weight?

[Capt. Clueless]

OK, my snappie 23 comes in at 1.75 tons. I am hoping to get a shogun sport for towing, but can anyone tell me what weight trailer (twin axle, braked) I need to roughly look for that will take the snappie quite happily please? Will a one ton trailer be happy with something nearly twice it's weight on it's back?
I've been reading a lot of old posts etc on towing, but getting all the maths right, can be a tad confusing. The Shogun 2.5d sport (tow vehicle I am looking at) has a tow capacity of 2800kg, and I would like to try and keep within this?? Does this sound feasible please??
I've towed caravans all round Europe, so the towing bit is second nature, but getting everything to fit in with 2 seperate entities (suitable weight of trailer for boat etc) is (although probably straightforward to some) is making me scratch my head. Can anybody put my dilemma into plain speak please?

 

[lw395]

Rib trailers of that capacity can be well over half a ton.
I think you should talk to a trailer maker like RM Trailers?

 

[Corribee Boy]

I'd agree that the trailer could be half to three-quarters of a tonne for that payload. Also, is the boat weight something you've actually measured, or is it from the builder's specification? My boat weighs about 1.5 times the specified weight, presumably from rigging, supplies, fuel, tins of rice pudding etc, some of which I remove and dump in the towing vehicle for balanced weight distribution. I think you could be close to your limit!

 

[[159032]]

It should be easily possible.
Look at this trailer http://www.sbstrailers.com/bilge-keel-cruiser-trailers?product_id=116

It has a load capacity of 2150 Kgs which should suit your boat, even if it has put on weight. The Gross Weight is 2500 kgs which is within the towing weight of your proposed vehicle.
A bit of simple maths shows that it weighs 350 Kgs, which seems pretty light, having seen the picture of it.

 

[Capt. Clueless]

I'd agree that the trailer could be half to three-quarters of a tonne for that payload. Also, is the boat weight something you've actually measured, or is it from the builder's specification? My boat weighs about 1.5 times the specified weight, presumably from rigging, supplies, fuel, tins of rice pudding etc, some of which I remove and dump in the towing vehicle for balanced weight distribution. I think you could be close to your limit!

I actually got the weight from a forumite "SD23" when reading through some very old posts. He seemed extremely well versed in this model. The boat would actually be empty in tow, except obviously rigging etc.

 

[[159032]]

The only way to get the weight of an old boat is to weigh it. Either a crane with a load cell or take it to a weigh bridge (chicken and egg). GRP may have become "heavier" over the years if it has been a bit porous and all small production boats vary. They may have altered the keel material or lay-up during production.

 

[Floyd Raser]

Have a look here for advice on all matters towing, including a buyer's guide: http://www.ntta.co.uk/

I think you'll need a trailer plated at 2.6 tonnes GVW for yor set up and the Shogun is ideal. The trailer may be around 600 to 700kgs so it may be close but you'll have checked. Trailer manufacturers are very helpful especially if they think they're going to sell a new one. Be careful of the second hand market though, it's a jungle out there!
I am also looking for a decent trailer around 2 tonnes and I think it may have to be a new one.
Best of luck!

 

[Corribee Boy]

That trailer does seem very light - I was basing my guesstimate on various trailers I own which, it seems, are generally much heavier. But assuming the figures are right then it should solve your problem, apart from the price!

 

[Capt. Clueless]

Thanks folks for your input. The mathematics of trailers, I find difficult to understand. I am just over 11 stone. If someone weighing 15 stone got on my back, I'd collapse. However, If I put a 1.75 ton trailer sailer on a lightweight trailer, it'll tow fine. It must be about axle strength and weight distribution. I think I can now see a bit clearer. (just).

 

[Floyd Raser]

Thanks folks for your input. The mathematics of trailers, I find difficult to understand. I am just over 11 stone. If someone weighing 15 stone got on my back, I'd collapse. However, If I put a 1.75 ton trailer sailer on a lightweight trailer, it'll tow fine. It must be about axle strength and weight distribution. I think I can now see a bit clearer. (just).

Yep. A lot of it is to do with the axle ratings which relate to the suspension ability and braking abilty, which helps to stop the laden trailer taking over and pushing the tow vehicle. Higher rated axles don't add a significant amount to the weight in relation to the over all load.

 

[PCUK]

My 3500kg trailer weighs 500kg if that is any help. Just look at the rating plate.

 

[VicS]

Thanks folks for your input. The mathematics of trailers, I find difficult to understand. I am just over 11 stone. If someone weighing 15 stone got on my back, I'd collapse. However, If I put a 1.75 ton trailer sailer on a lightweight trailer, it'll tow fine. It must be about axle strength and weight distribution. I think I can now see a bit clearer. (just).

For what its worth below is the Indespension design for a boat trailer ( It can be fitted with bilge keel supports instead of keel rollers) with a capacity of 1.7 tonnes but its unladen weight is only 381kg

 

[chrishscorp]

I have an Ifor Williams plant trailer weighs in at 550KG, loaded total gross weight can be upto 2500KG.

You need to check what the Gross Train Weight of the proposed Tow Vehicle is, then add up Vehicle, trailer, boat driver, fuel, sandwiches etc etc and you need something that will tow that legally and safely. My GTW is 4250KG so i only ever load a max of 1500KG in the trailer.

 

[PCUK]

Thanks folks for your input. The mathematics of trailers, I find difficult to understand. I am just over 11 stone. If someone weighing 15 stone got on my back, I'd collapse. However, If I put a 1.75 ton trailer sailer on a lightweight trailer, it'll tow fine. It must be about axle strength and weight distribution. I think I can now see a bit clearer. (just).

Can't you lift more than body weight then? Just because you are a wimp, doesn't mean your trailer is!
As before my 3500kg trailers weighs 500kg so I can load up to 3000kg.
This is so simple I can't believe people are trying to make it sound even vaguely complicated!

 

[Avocet]

Thanks folks for your input. The mathematics of trailers, I find difficult to understand. I am just over 11 stone. If someone weighing 15 stone got on my back, I'd collapse. However, If I put a 1.75 ton trailer sailer on a lightweight trailer, it'll tow fine. It must be about axle strength and weight distribution. I think I can now see a bit clearer. (just).

But think of a 40 ton container lorry, then. Clearly it doesn't have to weigh 40 tons when empty to be able to carry 40 tons! If you laid down and were adequately supported, you'd be able to lie at least 1 x 15 stone person on top of you. OK, it might be uncomfortable, but you wouldn't "break". It's much the same with trailers. Provided the structure is adequate for the loads being imposed on it, it won't collapse. I have a trailer (not a boat trailer) that weighs about 450kg empty but has a maximum permitted weight of 2 tonnes.

Incidentally, if you want to weight the boat (and / or the car and /or the trailer, your local scrapyard would be as good a place as any. They nearly always have calibrated weighbridges so that they can pay the scrap men for whatever they bring in. They'll probably be happy to weigh your vehicles for a tenner or so. (Just remember whether you were in the vehicle or standing on the weighbridge when the weight was taken. Lots of people get out of the car because they just want the weight of the empty car, but then stand next to it on the weighbridge platform anyway!

 

[Capt. Clueless]

Some extremely useful and now I have seen the light, obvious points of view and facts. Many thanks to all contributors to this thread. I am now very happy to get my chosen trailer without qualms. Once again, many thanks. (Not sure about a new one though, as it'll only get used occasionally as the boat will be on seasonal moorings). I'm sacrificing one of my Alfas for this, so it'll have to be good!

 

[lw395]

For what its worth below is the Indespension design for a boat trailer ( It can be fitted with bilge keel supports instead of keel rollers) with a capacity of 1.7 tonnes but its unladen weight is only 247kg

....

Looks like 381kg lower LHS of image?

 

[VicS]

Looks like 381kg lower LHS of image?

Yessorry I copied the wrong figure ( from the book) into my post

 

[Avocet]

I'm sacrificing one of my Alfas for this, so it'll have to be good!

Nooooooo! Can't you sell a kidney instead, or something? Surely you don't need to take action as drastic as getting rid of an Alfa do you?!

 

[Floyd Raser]

(Not sure about a new one though, as it'll only get used occasionally as the boat will be on seasonal moorings). I'm sacrificing one of my Alfas for this, so it'll have to be good!

Now just calm down. I'm with Avocet on this one. Unless of course you have about 10 Alfas?

I've just found a trailer which appears to meet my needs - £1200. It looks donkey's years old by the state of the ancient hitch/brake set up and rusty wheels with hub caps! If it needs new suspension units that could go up to around £2K.
A new one is around £3,500. That seems to say that it'll take 30 odd years to loose £2K ish. For realibility etc etc it's starting to look like a decent investment.